Compression Support Hosiery Helps Lymphedema
When most people are diagnosed with lymphedema, they don’t even know what it is. Often there is shock and concern about how to deal with it. Luckily, there are many compression support hosiery products from VitalityMedical.com that can help.
Lymphedema is simply swelling caused by lymph fluid collecting in certain areas of the body. This typically occurs in the limbs. Lymphedema occurs when the lymphatic system, which acts as the body’s sewage system, fails for some reason. There can be many causes, but the most common cause is cancer and its treatment.
When the lymphatic system stops functioning properly, the lymph fluid is unable to get pumped through the body and as a result, it accumulates. Most often lymphedema begins in the hands or feet, with noticeable swelling. If this swelling persists it can be a sign of lymphedema, and left untreated it can spread throughout the entire limb and lead to more serious complications.
Common sufferers of lymphedema include patients recovering from surgery or trauma, those with cellulitis, post mastectomy patients, as well cancer patients. Women suffering from breast cancer are likely to get lymphedema of the arm on the affected side. Pelvic surgery also is a common cause of lymphedema in the leg. Any impairment of the lymphatic system that dramatically reduces the capacity to move the lymph fluid can lead to lymphedema.
Combating Lymphedema
The most common treatment for lymphedema is compression support hosiery. These compression garments come in several styles determined by the area of the body affected. Support hosiery helps alleviate the swelling by compressing the affected area and helping to force the lymph fluid through the body.
The lymphatic system relies on muscle movement to pump the lymph fluid, so movement or exercise is important. But that is not’t always enough. That is where a compression garment becomes a necessity.
For lymphedema in the leg, there are several varieties of compression support stockings.
When swelling in the arms occurs, there are arm sleeves, gauntlets, and gloves.
When it comes to diagnosing lymphedema, your doctor will usually recommend a compression garment and give you a prescription. But it is important to make sure you get the correct support hosiery and it is also critical to get the correct size.
A compression sleeve, for instance, is used to help eliminate swelling in the arm. It works by encouraging lymph flow from the pressure it applies to the affected arm. Moving your arm under this pressure aids the movement of the fluid, so it is important to make sure you have a correctly sized compression garment.
VitalityMedical.com provides compression hosiery sizing guides for all of the compression garments available. To insure you get the correct size, follow the guidelines on which measurements are needed and where and how the measurements are to be taken.
Mediven Lymphedema Sleeve, Gauntlets, Gloves
In order for you to get the most out of your compression garments, it is important to follow the care instructions the manufacturers supply. Depending on usage and care, compression garments will last several months. However, over time, the elasticity breaks down, and once that happens the amount of compression decreases and the garment’s effectiveness decreases dramatically.
Combating Varicose veins
Varicose veins are another common problem helped by compression hosiery. Varicose veins are caused by the failure of the one-way valves in the veins. As blood is pumped through the veins on its way back to the heart, it passes through one-way valves that keep the blood from flowing backward. Unfortunately, some of these valves fail resulting in the blood pooling behind these failed valves.
In addition to varicose veins being unsightly, they can also be very painful. Compression socks can help in pumping the blood through these compromised veins and help keep the appearance of varicose veins from getting worse.
Lymphedema and painful varicose veins do not have to keep you from normal daily function. It is manageable and controllable with the use of compression support hosiery from Vitality Medical.
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